Modular hood for mechanized sweeper

Abstract

A hood for a mechanized sweeper has dual portions connected via a mating surface and includes several downward depending flaps for increasing volumetric efficiency of defined vacuum plenum. The three flaps consist of a front flap, a middle flap, and a rear flap, and are of a cartridge type to facilitate replacement. The front and rear flaps are adjustable to allow for lowering of these two flaps in the event of wear due to friction against a paved road surface. A mechanism for raising the leading edge of the hood is also provided.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A hood for a mechanized sweeper, comprising:
 a. a left portion having an upper surface extending in a first direction;   b. a right portion having an upper surface extending in said first direction;   c. a central mating surface configured to attach to said left portion and said right portion; and   d. connectors configured to attach said left portion and said right portion to said central mating surface.   
   
   
       22 . The hood of claim  1 , further comprising a front flap extending downward from underneath a front portion of said left and right portions, said front flap having an arcuate shape. 
   
   
       23 . The hood of claim  2 , further comprising a rear flap extending perpendicularly downward from a rear portion of said left and right portions. 
   
   
       24 . The hood of claim  3 , wherein said rear flap further comprises a cartridge including a resilient member. 
   
   
       25 . The hood of claim  4 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable connectors configured to adjustably attach said resilient member of said rear flap to said hood. 
   
   
       26 . The hood of claim  5 , wherein said plurality of adjustable connectors comprise fasteners adjustably received in said hood and connected to said cartridge such that adjustment of said connectors lowers said rear cartridge relative to said hood. 
   
   
       27 . The hood of claim  3 , further comprising a middle flap, said middle flap position between said front and rear flaps and including a vertical resilient portion. 
   
   
       28 . The hood of claim  5 , wherein said plurality of adjustable connectors are further configured to adjustably attach said resilient member to said hood. 
   
   
       29 . The hood of claim  8 , wherein said plurality of adjustable connectors are bolts rotatably received in said hood. 
   
   
       30 . The hood of claim  9 , wherein said bolts are configured to compress an upper edge of said resilient portion between a portion of said bolts and said hood. 
   
   
       31 . The hood of claim  7 , further comprising two end skirts configured to extend perpendicularly downward from said hood at the outer sides of said hood. 
   
   
       32 . The hood of claim  11 , wherein said hood further includes a securing rod for compressing a portion of said front flap against said hood. 
   
   
       33 . The hood of claim  12 , wherein said securing rod may be moved from a first position to a second position such that the height of said front flap may be adjusted relative to said hood. 
   
   
       34 . The hood of claim  13 , wherein said rod is substantially co-extensive with the width of said hood. 
   
   
       35 . The hood of claim  14 , wherein said front flap includes an upper edge, said upper edge affixed to said left and right portions. 
   
   
       36 . A hood for a mechanized sweeper, comprising:
 a. a left portion having an upper surface;   b. a right portion having an upper surface, said left and right portions coplanar with respect to each other;   c. means for mating said left portion and right portions together;   d. a front flap configured to extend arcuately downward and forward from said hood;   e. a rear flap configured to extend perpendicularly downward from said left and right portions;   f. a middle flap interposed between said front and rear flaps;   g. end skirts configured to extend perpendicularly downward from said hood at its sides thereof; and,   h. said middle flap, said rear flap, and said skirts defining a vacuum plenum underneath said hood.   
   
   
       37 . The hood of claim  16 , wherein said front flap comprises a resilient member having an upper edge fixed to said hood at an underneath surface thereof. 
   
   
       38 . The hood of claim  17 , wherein said front and middle flaps are co-extensive with one another. 
   
   
       39 . The hood of claim  18 , wherein said front and rear flaps are vertically adjustable relative to said left and right portions. 
   
   
       40 . A hood for a mechanized sweeper, comprising:
 a. left means for defining a left portion of said hood;   b. right means coplanar with said left means for defining a right portion of said hood;   c. said left and right means joined together at their edges thereof;   d. front means depending arcuately downward from said left and right means for defining a front vacuum barrier to said hood;   e. rear means depending downward from said left and right for defining a rear vacuum barrier to said hood;   f. middle means depending downward from said hood and interposed between said front and rear means for enhancing said front vacuum barrier;   g. two lateral means depending downward from said hood at its sides thereof for defining two side vacuum barriers; and,   h. said left, right, front, middle, rear, and lateral means defining a vacuum plenum under said hood.   
   
   
       41 . A hood as recited in claim  20 , wherein side, front, and rear means are adjustably connected to said left and right means such that said front and rear means may be lowered relative to said left and right means. 
   
   
       42 . A hood as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said front flap comprises an arcuately shaped resilient member, said resilient member including at least two slots at an upper portion thereof and fixed at its upper edge thereof to said left and right means, said hood further comprising a securing rod connected to said left and right means at an underneath surface thereof and including at least a pair of fastening means having a portion passing through said slots for biasing said rod against said resilient member such that said front flap is pressed against said underneath surface of said right and left portions, and wherein said fastening means may be moved to lower said resilient member relative to said left and right means.